Derelict buildings in towns and villages throughout County Galway could be turned into remote-working hubs and community spaces under a new €15 million scheme from the Government.
The State-wide investment will seek to encourage collaborative projects to upgrade shopfronts and enhance streetscapes, as well as investing in green spaces located in rural town centres, with grants of between €20,000 and €500,000 being made available.
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Enterprise, cultural, tourism and community hubs will also be funded, while marketing campaigns by local authorities will also be funded in a bid to attract remote workers to rural areas. The scheme will be administered by local councils, which will work with communities and businesses in their areas to develop and implement proposals.
A maximum grant of €500,000 is aimed at supporting large-scale projects. Marketing campaigns by local authorities will highlight what areas have to offer in terms of remote working facilities, as well as cultural and recreational amenities.
'Irreversible change'
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The scheme has been welcomed by Minister of State, and Fine Gael Galway West TD, Hildegarde Naughton. “The way we work and live is going to irreversibly change as we emerge from the pandemic, and there will be opportunities to revitalise rural areas and reverse generations of depopulation and neglect,” she said. “This initiative is part of our five-year strategy to breathe new life back into rural areas, and will make towns and villages more attractive places to live, work, socialise and raise a family.”
